Let-off mechanism for looms



Nov. 1,1938. w. P. BODIE LET-OFF MECHANiSM FOR LOOMS Filed May 7, 1938 2 Shecs-Sheet l W M 'IHIH I W. P. BODIE LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Nov. 1, 1938.

Filed May 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1 1938 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS William P. Bodie, Newberry, S. 0. Application May 7, 1938 Serial"No.206,659

This invention relates to a let-off mechanism for looms, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide means by which effective strain or tension may be imposed automatically i dially movable weighted members together with] upon the yarn beam.

It is also an object of the invention to pro vide a tensioning structure for the beam including a rotatable element in driven connection with the beam and which carries a plurality of ra- 20. advantages'are -attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will here- 25. inafter be definitely claimed.

Cal

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now-proceed to'describe the the accompanying draw- "-stantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow;

,Figure 3 isa sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow;

substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in outer end elevation of the structure illustrated inFigure 4 with the retaining bands omitted.

As the present invention relates solely to the let-off mechanism in the accompanying draw-- ings I have only illustrated so much of a loom forth the frame as is necessary to properly set features of the let-off mechanism.

any desired construction and which carries'in any desired manner a yarn beam or warp beam 13. Each end portion of the beam B carries a gear 55;! ofv desiredradiuswhichis adapted to be selec- Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, F denotes the frame of a loom which'may be of 5 Claims. (01. 139-7167 'tively engaged with a pinion 2 carried by a shaft Brotatably supported by the frame F and extend-'- ing laterally beyond a side thereof. Fixed, as at 4, for rotation with the shaft 3 are the disks 5 spaced apart as desired lengthwise of said shaft 3.

These;disks 5 are of desired radius and are cumferentially spaced and radially disposed provided in their opposed. faces withthe cirgrooves orchannels 6 which open through the peripheral edges of the disks 5 as is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each of the grooves; or channels 6 of a disk 5 is parallel to a groove or channel 6 in the opposed face of the second disks 5 or, in other words, the grooves or channels 6 of the disks 5 arezarranged in engaged therein the guide flanges 1 extending outwardly from the weighted membersB. Each of the members9 atthe longitudinal center of its outer marginal portion is provided with a relatively large recess ID, the inner or bottom wall I l of which is outwardly rounded in order for the most effective coaction with the arcuate brake shoe 8 which is received within the recess ll of' each-of the members 9 as the disks 5 rotate.

After the weighted members Shave been properly applied between the disks 5, the extent of their outward radial movement is limited by contact with the holding bands I2 which madet'achably secured by the screws I4 or otherwise as may be preferred tothe peripheral edge faces of the disks 5. These bands l2, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 4, are of a width sufficient to 'close'thefouter ends of the grooves or'channe1s 6 so that the'contact of the flanges I of each of the members!) therewith is assured.

"The brake shoe '8 is elongated and disposed on desired'radius so that it can be maintained in proper effective position for. coaction with the weighted members 9. This brake shoe 8 is vertically disposed and the lower end portion thereof is pivotally supported, as at l5, within a slot l6 disposed lengthwise through an elongated beam IT. This beam I! has its inner end portion fixed, as at l8, to a rock shaft l9. This shaft I9'is rotatablysupported by the frame F at a desired point in advance of'the shaft 3 and is disposedtransversely of the frame F. The shaft [9 also extends'a' desired distance inwardly of the frame F'and said inner portion of the shaft l9 has fixed thereto, as at 20, for rocking movement therewith an arm 2l disposed toward;

the beam B; The outer or free end portion of this arm 2| carries a shoe 22 for contact from pairs with'the grooves or channels 5 of each pair in proper relation so that there may be slidably above with the thread or yarn wound upon the beam B. This shoe 22 through the action of the shoe 8 is automatically maintained in proper contact with the thread or yarn on the beam B to assure the requisite tension being maintained on said yarn or thread at all times during a weaving operation. The mounting 2|] of the arm 2| upon the shaft I9 is such as to readily allow an adjustment of the arm 2| around the shaft l9 as the requirements of practice may deem advisable and necessary.

The pivoted or connected end portion of the arm I! is continued by an elongated tail arm 23 which has adjustably mounted thereon a bal ancing weight or poise 24 which is maintained in desired selective adjustment through the instrumentality of the clamping screw 25 or the like.

Pivotally connected, as at 26, to the central portion of the shoe 8 is the outer end portion of an elongated rod 21. This rod 21 is'of a length to freely extend through the opening 28 provided in the outer portion of the arm l1. slidably mounted upon this rod 27 are the blocks 29 held to the rod 21 by the locking screws 30 or the like. These blocks 29 are formed to provide the opposed coacting cam surfaces 3| so that upon rotation of one of these blocks 29 around'the rod 21 with respect to the other, ad.- justment may be had of the tension of the coil spring 34 encircling the rod 21 interposed be-' tween the arm -I'land the lowermost block 29. To rotatably adjust either of these blocks 29 it is om necessary to release a clamping or holding screw 30 and, of course, after the desired adjustment has been effected such screw may again be tightened. V I

v The spring 34 provides means for constantly urging the shoe 8 toward the shaft 3 and within the recesses H] of the weighted members 9 as such weighted members swing or move upwardly as the disks rotate. As these weights or members 9 pass upwardly beyond the vertical center theywill swing outwardly toward the peripheries of the disks 5 and thus provide sufiicient retardation to the rotation of the beam B to assure effective tension or resistance being maintained upon the thread or yarn, as drawn from said beam. I p

The fuller the winding of the thread or yarn upon the beam B the greater resistance must be-imposed upon the thread or yarn by the shoe 22 under the action of the ascending weighted members 9 and, therefore, upon the initial placement of a fully wound beam, the arm 2| will raise the arm I! to bring the shoe 8 into a position'to 'co'actiwith the ascending weighted members 9 to move the same to their innermost positions so that maximum tension will be imposed upon the beam. However, as the diameter of the thread diminishes the arm I! will correspondingly swing downwardly and the shoe '8 outwardly from the shaft 3, thus permitting the rising weighted members 9 to assume positions further away from the shaft 3 to reduce the tensioning action of the descending weighted members 9. e

The extent of downward swinging movement of the arm I! is limitedby contact of said arm with the outstanding stop member 32 adjustably held, as at 33, to the frame F.

From the foregoing description it is thought be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. A let-off mechanism for looms comprising a rotatable member having driven connection with the rotating beam of a loom, weighted members carried by said rotating member and having sliding movement radially of the rotating member, said weighted members moving outwardly of the rotating member as said weighted members move downwardly, and means under control of the thread on the beam for holding the weighted members inwardly of the rotating member as said weighted members move downwardly.

2. A let-off mechanism for looms comprising a rotatable member for driven connection with the beam of a loom, a rock arm positioned adjacent to the rotatable member, an upstanding shoe carried by said rock arm, means associated with said rock arm and coacting with the thread on the beam to allow said rock arm to swing away from the axial center of the rotating member as the diameter of the thread on the beam diminishes, weighted members carried by the rotatable member and free for sliding movement in a direction radially of the rotatable member, said weighted members as they assume positions away from the center of the rotatable member imposing tensionc'on the thread as pulled from the beam, said weighted members moving in such direction as they travel downwardly, and a shoe carried by the rock arm for coaction with the weighted members to hold said weighted members inwardly of the rotatable member as said weighted members move downwardly.

3. A let-off mechanism for looms comprising a rotatable member for driven connection with the beam of a loom, a rock arm positioned adjacent to the rotatable member, an upstanding shoe carried by said rock arm, means associated with said rock arm and coacting with the thread on the beam'to allow said rock arm to swing away from the axial 'center of the rotatable member the diameter of the thread on the beam diminishes, weighted members carried by the rotatable member and free for sliding movement in a direction radially of the rotatable member, said weighted members as they assume positions away from the center of the rotatable member imposing tension on the thread as pulled from the beam, said weighted members moving in such direction as they travel downwardly, a shoe carried by the rock arm 'for coaction with the weighted members tojhold said weighted members inwardly of the rotatable member as said weighted members move downwardly, said second shoe being in pivotal connection with the rock arm, and yielding means for resisting the movement of the shoe in adirection away from the axial center of the rotatable member.

4. A let-off mechanism for looms comprising a rotatable member for driven connection with the beam of a loom, a rock arm positioned ad- J'acent to the rotatable member, an upstanding shoe carried by said rock arm, means associated with said rock arm and coacting with the thread on the beamyto. allow said rock arm to swing away from the axial center of the rotatable member as the diameter of the thread on the beam diminishes, weighted members carried by the rotatable member and free for sliding movement in a direction radially of the rotatable member, said weighted members as they assume positions away from the center of the rotatable member imposing tension on the thread as pulled from the beam, said weighted members moving in such direction as they travel downwardly, a shoe carried by the rock arm for coaction with the weighted members to hold said weighted members inwardly of the rotatable member as said weighted members move downwardly, and a counter-balance operatively carried by the rock arm.

5. A let-off mechanism for looms comprising a rotatable member for driven connection with the beam of a loom, a rock arm positioned adjacent to the rotatable member, an upstanding shoe carried by said rock arm, means associated with'said rock arm and coacting with the thread on the beam to allow said rock arm-to swing away from the axial center of the rotatable member as the diameter of the thread on the beam diminishes, weighted members carried by the rotatable member and free for sliding movement in a direction radially of the rotatable member, said weighted members as they assume positions away from the center of the rotatable member imposing tension on the thread as pulled from the beam, said weighted members moving in such direction as they travel downwardly, and a shoe carried by the rock arm for coaction with the weighted members to hold said weighted members inwardly of the rotatable member as said weighted members move downwardly, said weighted members having recesses in which are received'the shoe as the weighted members move upwardly.

WILLIAM P. BODIE.

Patent No. 2,135,098 Granted November 1, 1938 WILLIAM P. BODIE The above entitled patent was extended August 21, 1951, under the provisiuns of the act of June 30, 19.30, for 4 years and 147 days from the expiration of the original term thereof.

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